Geographic Geographic Perspectives of Perspectives of

ChemistryChemistryLuis D. MontesLuis D. Montes

Department of ChemistryDepartment of ChemistryUniversity of Central OklahomaUniversity of Central Oklahoma

lmontes@ucok.edulmontes@ucok.edu

Why Geographies of Why Geographies of Chemistry?Chemistry?

►Geography literally means “to describe Geography literally means “to describe the Earth”the Earth”

►A geographic perspective of chemistry A geographic perspective of chemistry examines the ways that the principles examines the ways that the principles and practices of chemistry differ from and practices of chemistry differ from one place to another (place matters)one place to another (place matters)

►Analogy: the solvent effectAnalogy: the solvent effect

Why Geographies of Why Geographies of Chemistry?Chemistry?

►Although the principles of chemistry are Although the principles of chemistry are ‘placeless’, the practice and development ‘placeless’, the practice and development of chemistry is not.of chemistry is not.

►Science (and so chemistry), as a body of Science (and so chemistry), as a body of knowledge, is a “cultural formation, … knowledge, is a “cultural formation, … shaped by the local environments in shaped by the local environments in which its practitioners carry out their which its practitioners carry out their tasks”.tasks”.11

11 D.N. Livingstone, ‘Reading the heavens, planting the earth: cultures D.N. Livingstone, ‘Reading the heavens, planting the earth: cultures of British science’, of British science’, History Workshop JournalHistory Workshop Journal (2002), (2002), 5454, 236., 236.

Why Geographies of Why Geographies of Chemistry?Chemistry?

►Chemistry traditionally places an Chemistry traditionally places an emphasis on recognizes spaces and emphasis on recognizes spaces and placesplaces

►Chemistry creates spaces and places Chemistry creates spaces and places for its activitiesfor its activities

Geography in ChemistryGeography in Chemistry

► Names of Names of SubstancesSubstances Rochelle Salt Rochelle Salt

(NaKC(NaKC44HH66OO66)) Epsom Salt (MgSOEpsom Salt (MgSO44)) Sal di Modena Sal di Modena

(MgSO(MgSO44)) Stannum Anglici (tin)Stannum Anglici (tin) Spanish Green Spanish Green

(CuCO(CuCO33)) Cyprian vitriol Cyprian vitriol

(CuSO(CuSO44))

►Names of Elements Names of Elements (26 or 34 place (26 or 34 place related names)related names) Copper (cuprum)Copper (cuprum) AmericiumAmericium DarmstadiumDarmstadium RheniumRhenium RutheniumRuthenium GalliumGallium YtterbiumYtterbium MagnesiumMagnesium

Americium Europiu

mBerkelium

Californium

FranciumGallium

RutheniumGermaniumPolonium

Scandium

Thulium

Lutetium

Holmium

Hafnium ErbiumTerbiumYtterbiumYttrium

Rhenium

Strontium

Darmstadium

Dubnium

Copper (cuprum)

MagnesiumManganese

Cadmium

Where does chemistry take Where does chemistry take place?place?

Generating chemical knowledgeGenerating chemical knowledge► Industrial research laboratoriesIndustrial research laboratories►Government research laboratoriesGovernment research laboratories►Academic research laboratoriesAcademic research laboratories►What differences exist in these places?What differences exist in these places?►How does one gain admittance to How does one gain admittance to

each?each?►Can people in other places generate Can people in other places generate

chemical knowledge?chemical knowledge?

Where does chemistry take Where does chemistry take place?place?

Disseminating chemical Disseminating chemical knowledgeknowledge

►MuseumsMuseums

►ClassroomsClassrooms

►Learning labsLearning labs

►ConferencesConferences

Where does chemistry take Where does chemistry take place?place?

Applying chemical knowledgeApplying chemical knowledge►How can chemical knowledge be used to How can chemical knowledge be used to

improve our surroundings?improve our surroundings?

►How does the practice of chemistry How does the practice of chemistry impact our environment?impact our environment?

►Where are Where are samples/ores/minerals/elements samples/ores/minerals/elements obtained?obtained?

Sites of Chemistry EducationSites of Chemistry Education

►ClassroomClassroom

►LaboratoryLaboratory

►FieldField

The Chemistry ClassroomThe Chemistry Classroom

►What distinguishes a chemistry What distinguishes a chemistry classroom?classroom?

►What can be altered in the classroom What can be altered in the classroom environment to aid or hinder learning?environment to aid or hinder learning?

►How can a classroom be designed to How can a classroom be designed to encourage different types of learning?encourage different types of learning?

The Chemistry ClassroomThe Chemistry Classroom

The Chemistry ClassroomThe Chemistry Classroom

The Chemistry LaboratoryThe Chemistry Laboratory

►What is present in a chemistry What is present in a chemistry laboratory?laboratory?

►What is required for a safe laboratory?What is required for a safe laboratory?

►How does the design of a laboratory How does the design of a laboratory influence or reflect the goals of the influence or reflect the goals of the laboratory?laboratory?

The Chemistry LaboratoryThe Chemistry Laboratory

The Chemistry LaboratoryThe Chemistry Laboratory

The Chemistry LaboratoryThe Chemistry Laboratory

The Chemistry LaboratoryThe Chemistry Laboratory

Chemistry in the FieldChemistry in the Field

►Students can experience chemistry in Students can experience chemistry in the world around them (field trips)the world around them (field trips)

►Students can use chemistry they learn Students can use chemistry they learn to interact with the world around them to interact with the world around them (service learning)(service learning)

Chemistry in the FieldChemistry in the Field

Chemistry in the FieldChemistry in the Field

Further ReadingFurther Reading

►Livingstone, David N., Livingstone, David N., Putting Science Putting Science in its Place: Geographies of Scientific in its Place: Geographies of Scientific KnowledgeKnowledge, The University of Chicago , The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2003.Press, Chicago, 2003. Good entry point for studying geographies Good entry point for studying geographies

of science; includes a bibliographic essay.of science; includes a bibliographic essay.►Brit. Jour. Hist. Sci.Brit. Jour. Hist. Sci., , 3838 (1), 2005. (1), 2005.

The entire issue is devoted to geographies The entire issue is devoted to geographies of science.of science.